Important factors to consider when buying a heat pump

◄ Back to all articles

Finding the right heat pump for your home can sometimes be quite a challenge. The best thing you can do is have a very clear idea of what you are expecting from your heat pump beforehand.

Many property developers these days are keen to install heating solutions that don’t stand in the way of sustainability. And that’s why we are seeing more and more new builds being heated by heat pumps. However, choosing which type of heat pump to rely on is no mean feat. There are so many different criteria to factor in to ensure that you end up with the perfect solution – design, smart home integration, space required and the list goes on. But if you consider all of the points below, you will be sure to find just what you need for your own project in no time.

Space required – which heat pump will fit in my property?

Waermepumpe_Platzbedarf_Hoval
The top choice of heat pump for your home is ultimately going to come down to the space available in the property.
  • In a single family home, a geothermal heat pump with an output of 7 kW requires a flat surface of around 300 m2. In this case, energy is extracted by surface collectors.
  • The way energy is extracted by geothermal heat pumps with deep boreholes means that this solution saves on space, but you are faced with higher costs and more building work as a result.
  •  Roughly the same amount of space is required for water heat pumps, which require wells to be created. There are plenty of specific rules and regulations to follow here. For example, you will have to consider the distance between neighbouring wells and the depth of your own well. If you want to go down this route, you will need to get in touch with the local authorities for further information.
  • Air source heat pumps have an outdoor unit, which means they take up less space in the home. The fact that they are also easy to integrate makes them an ideal choice for renovation projects.

Noise – how loud should my air source heat pump be?

Waermepumpe_Heizung_Schall_Hoval
If you are leaning towards an air source heat pump, you’ll have to give some thought to the noise element.

As a general rule, the noise produced by a piece of technical equipment should not exceed the acceptable level of background noise during the night, for example. To give you a rough idea here, in many rural areas of Austria, the noise level at the point at which your neighbour’s property begins should not exceed 30 decibels between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00. This is the equivalent of a watch ticking or a light breeze. As a point of reference, the sound power of a dishwasher is around 45 dB (A).

Control – what should my heat pump offer?

Waermepumpe_Onlineregelung_Hoval
Smart homes are bang on trend right now and the majority of new builds these days are being fitted with some appliances that can be controlled by apps and other online gadgets.

And so it makes sense to think about whether you want the option of connecting your heat pump to the Internet too. After all, this connection is the only way of having diagnostics and troubleshooting performed remotely online in the event of a problem, for example. This means there won’t be any need to call out a customer service team to your home. If you are looking for a more cost-effective way of managing your heat pump, however, there are a number of alternative solutions for you to consider in advance. If you use the Hoval control system, you have the option of extracting the power needed for the heat pump without generating any emissions, such as by integrating a solar panel solution, or combining your heat pump with controlled residential ventilation.

Design – is it important to me that my heat pump has a modern design?

Waermepumpe_Design_Hoval

For many people, the external look of their heat pump is an important factor since they are investing a lot of time and money into their home and garden.

 

In the case of air source heat pumps, the outdoor unit is usually placed in the garden for all to see, which is why many people choose the design carefully. If you can find an air source heat pump with a nice modern design, you can turn it into a feature rather than feeling the need to hide it away. If, however, the heat pump is going to be out of sight or if you’re simply not bothered about what it looks like, you can forget about the design altogether and save yourself some money.

Customer service – do I want help to be available 24/7?

Waermepumpe_Kundendienst_Heizung_Hoval
One point that people often only think about when something hasn’t gone to plan is the availability of customer service.

 For many customers, it is important that they can contact someone about their heat pump whenever they need to. After all, nobody wants to be sitting in a cold home for days on end if something does go wrong. All we can suggest here is that you choose a provider who has a customer service team available 24/7. Hoval has around 150 customer service operatives spread across the whole of Austria and they can be with you in no time. Investing in a unit that can be connected to the Internet also means that it can be accessed remotely. Problems can be fixed before you’ve even noticed that anything is wrong.

Technology – what can my future heat pump do?

You will also need to consider the latest technology. At this point, you face an important decision between a modulating heat pump and a single-stage heat pump. Modulation means that the heat pump produces just the right amount of energy needed in the home, with the heating system using the temperature outside as a point of reference. By way of contrast, a single-stage heat pump always operates at full power whenever heat is required. Even when a lower level of heat would suffice. This is similar to a unit working on the basis of an on/off system.

Cooling – should my heat pump take care of cooling as well as heating?

Waermepumpe_Raumkuehlung_Hoval

With our summers getting hotter and hotter, the demand for cooling solutions in the home is on the rise. Lots of heat pumps come with the option of bringing rooms down to a nicely manageable temperature during the warmer parts of the year. Fan convectors distribute cool air in the home. You can find out more about using heat pumps for cooling by clicking here.

Top questions to ask when buying a heat pump:

  • How much space do I have available for my heat pump?
  • What noise restrictions do I need to consider where I live?
  • Am I bothered about the design of the heat pump?
  • Would I like to have access to a customer service team 24/7?
  • Do I want to be able to connect my heat pump to the Internet?
  • Do I want my heat pump to adjust its output to the level of heating required?
  • Do I want a single-stage heat pump or a modulating heat pump?
  • Would I like my heat pump to double up as a cooling unit during the summer months?
If you would like to find out more about the different types of heat pumps available, check out another of our blog posts here: Which heat pump suits me best?
Author
Stefan Müller